What your Enneagram type says about the way you travel
the psychology of travel through the lens of your unique personality
Hi! I’m Katie, a cultural and social psychologist—but you can think of me as your BFF with a PhD. I’m also a travel curator, and I explore the magic that happens when you step out and into the world. Here, I unpack the psychology of travel—how it can heal, reveal, and transform us. If you’re craving more meaning, more beauty, or simply a shift in perspective, you’re in the right place. Thank you so much for being here.
Personality doesn’t stay behind when you board a plane.
It zips itself into your carry-on, shaping the way you plan, pack, wander, and rest.
Of all the ways we come to know ourselves, the Enneagram is one of my favorite tools. Not because it boxes us in, but because it opens a conversation, between our patterns and our possibilities.
It explores not just how we behave, but why.
And few things pull our motivations to the surface quite like travel.
The unfamiliar. The unstructured. The open sky.
Here’s how your Enneagram number might be traveling with you.
Type One – The Reformer
Core desire: to be good, right, and ethical.
You bring order to the chaos. You create itineraries with intention. You pack thoughtfully, choose responsibly, and seek meaning in your destinations—places that matter.
But travel isn’t always tidy. Let it be a little messy. Let yourself soften into the joy of what is, not just what should be.
Type Two – The Helper
Core desire: to feel loved and needed.
You travel for connection. You’re the one remembering the snacks, checking in on everyone’s comfort, striking up conversations with locals who feel like old friends.
Just don’t forget: your needs matter, too. You’re allowed to want something simply because it delights you. Pack those Twizzlers because you love them!
Type Three – The Achiever
Core desire: to be valuable and admired.
You make travel look easy—curating chic hotels, stylish outfits, and itineraries that hit all the high points.
But travel isn’t a performance. The best moments often come when you’re not trying to impress anyone. Take off the pressure. Let yourself be witnessed, not just seen.
Type Four – The Individualist
Core desire: to be authentic and unique.
You travel to feel—to write poems on windswept cliffs, to find beauty that mirrors your inner world. You’re drawn to places with soul, texture, melancholy.
Let your heart lead, but don’t forget to stay grounded in the moment. Not everything has to mean something to matter. And, not every moment has to be perfectly documented for the ‘gram for your trip to be enough.
Type Five – The Investigator
Core desire: to understand and preserve energy.
You travel quietly, curiously. You want to know a place, not just visit it. Museums, bookstores, quiet mornings with coffee and a view—that’s your rhythm.
But don’t let analysis keep you from experience. Get lost once or twice. Wander without researching why.
Type Six – The Loyalist
Core desire: to feel safe and supported.
You double-check everything, read all the reviews, and plan backup plans to your backup plans. You travel best with trusted companions and familiar comforts.
But, growth often comes in the uncertainty. Trust the journey. Trust you.
Type Seven – The Enthusiast
Core desire: to be satisfied and avoid pain.
You’re already booking your next trip before this one ends. You chase joy like it’s a passport stamp. Novelty is your compass—sunrise hikes, midnight gelato, dancing with strangers.
Just be careful not to rush past the depth. Stay a while. Let beauty linger.
Type Eight – The Challenger
Core desire: to be in control and protect themselves.
You travel boldly, independently, decisively. You know what you want, and you don’t wait for permission. You’re drawn to places that move you—politically, emotionally, viscerally.
To shake things up, consider letting someone else plan a day. Let vulnerability into your itinerary.
Type Nine – The Peacemaker
Core desire: to maintain peace and avoid conflict.
You’re the easiest travel companion—content with almost anything, happy to go with the flow.
But your voice matters. Choose the restaurant. Say where you really want to go. The trip gets better when you show up fully in it.
The Enneagram isn’t a static system. That’s what I love about it!
We shift. We stretch. Under stress, we lean into different numbers. In ease, we integrate others’ strengths. A Six, when calm, might move to a grounded Nine. A Four, on edge, might show up like a reactive Two. Travel reflects all of this. It shows us our edges and our openings.
That’s why I am so passionate about pairing personality with travel. It’s not about self-improvement. It’s about self-awareness. And, awareness helps us move through the world with intention, beauty, and just enough ease to allow ourselves to gently lean outside our comfort zones.
Curious to dig deeper into how you travel? I created a free Travel Personality Quiz to help you uncover your unique travel style—rooted in psychology, crafted with intention.
It’s a beautiful starting point for designing journeys that feel like you. Take the free quiz here.
And—when you're ready to turn that insight into a real adventure, I’d love to help you plan a trip that feels aligned, expansive, and beautifully your own. This is what I do! I plan trips tailored just for you and your unique personality. I’m currently waiving all planning fees for my psychologie readers, so now is a great time to get to booking!
Cover art by Alena Ganzhela used under license
Dear reader: what’s your Enneagram type and how does it shape how you travel?
I believe I’m a nine as my Mama was 😊